\(\color{darkblue}{\textbf{Spatial Data}}\)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Components}}\)

Spatial Data = Coordinates + Coordinate Reference System (CRS)

A common CRS is latitude/longitude

  • Latitude = position North to South
  • Longitude = position East to West

Type Latitude Longitude
Standard 44.57808N 123.2803W
Coding 44.57808 -123.2803
+N, -S +E, -W

Often it is written as: (longitude, latitude)

Thus: (-123.2803, 44.57808)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Types}}\)

\(\color{darkblue}{\textbf{New York City}}\)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{City}}\)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Borough/County}}\)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Community District}}\)

  • Created by the City through local law in 1975 to serve as political units


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Sub-Borough Area/PUMA}}\)

  • The Census’ approximation of Community Districts
  • Statistical areas defined for Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Neighborhood Tabulation Area}}\)

  • Created by the City to project populations at a small area level (min 15,000 people) for PlaNYC
  • Based on Census Tracts (meaning they line up with PUMAs and not Community Districts)


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{ZIP Codes}}\)

  • Created by USPS for the purposes of sorting and delivering mail
  • Not related to neighborhoods, political districts, or demographics
  • Not coterminous with census tracts, CDs, SBAs, or even boroughs
  • Approximated by the Census as ZCTAs


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Borough, Block, and Lot (BBL)}}\)

  • Created by the Department of Finance for taxes, zoning, construction, and other purposes
  • Ideally one building sits on a single lot that has one owner who pays taxes on the building
  • Search by property or BBL here


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{Building Identification Number (BIN)}}\)

  • Created by the Department of Buildings to uniquely identify every individual building
  • Process = Building permit filed with DOB > DOB creates temporary BIN (TBIN) > DOB issues a Certificate of Occupancy > DOB adds BIN to address database (PAD) > DoITT adds building footprint


\(\color{dodgerblue}{\textbf{PLUTO}}\)

  • Comprehensive land use dataset and key here